1) ’Important’ for UN to visit West Papua in light of human rights issue: Dutch minister

2) Papuan activist to report 5 Indonesian top figures for alleged racism

3) Armed criminal group member dies in gunfight with soldiers  

4) Intan Jaya conflict (4): Mountain of gold raises concerns for new problems

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https://en.jubi.co.id/un-visit-west-papua-human-rights-dutch-minister/

1) ’Important’ for UN to visit West Papua in light of human rights issue: Dutch minister

News Desk February 4, 2021 3:27 am

                         Discussion of human rights issues in Tanah Papua must hold in Papua, illustration - Jubi/doc

West Papua No. 1 News Portal | Jubi

 

Jakarta, Jubi – Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Stef Blok told the Dutch parliament recently that the country considered a visit by United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights to Papua “important”.

The statement was made on Jan. 12 in response to nine questions from seven political parties in the Netherlands. Seven out of nine questions concerned West Papua in a follow up to a hearing in November last year, in which the Dutch Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives listened to Benny Wenda, a West Papuan exiled leader.

“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has not yet visited Papua, partly because a visit has become temporarily virtually impossible due to the corona crisis. She does have a standing invitation to visit Indonesia. The Dutch Permanent Representation to the UN discussed this with the cabinet of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Dec. 3. The Netherlands has indicated that it considers a visit by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to Papua important. The Netherlands will again indicate to the Indonesian authorities at the next opportunity that it is important that such a visit takes place as soon as possible,” Blok wrote in the document.

 

The current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is Michelle Bachelet, a Chilean politician from the Socialist Party of Chile who served as the president of Chile from 2006-2010 and from 2014 to 2018.

The other six questions from the Dutch parliament to Minister Stef Blok included issues pertaining to increasing rejection against the continuation of special autonomy funds, the shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani, and the restriction of foreign journalists.

 

On Nov. 4, Nigel Adams, UK government Minister for Asia at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) who is also a member of parliament from Conservative Party, answered a question from a member of parliament about West Papua.

 

Read also: Komnas HAM Papua received reports, military personnel and police officers allegedly involved in human rights violations

 

Adams’s answer was: “The UK supports a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (ONHCR) to Papua. Officials from the British Embassy have discussed the proposed visit of with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and continue to encourage the Indonesian Government to agree dates as soon as possible.”

 

The international pressure on Indonesian government to invite UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua, a restive region that applies restricted access to foreign journalists, has been increasing especially in December 2019 when 79 countries in African Caribbean Pacific group made a resolution in which the countries “called for an international mission to visit Papua and provide an evidence-based, informed report on the human rights situation there,” reported RNZ Pacific.

 

Read also: West Papuans rally calling Australia stands against human rights violations in West Papua

 

Earlier in September 2019, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said her office was “disturbed” by escalating violence in Papua and West Papua in the past two weeks, especially the deaths of some protestors and security forces.

 

In early December 2020, the Southeast Asian branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern over the conflict in Papua Land. “We are disturbed by escalating violence over the past weeks and months […] and the increased risk of renewed tension and violence,” UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said.

 

Human rights activists have called on the UN to visit the Papua Land to address the allegation of human rights violations, including alleged judicial killings and alleged gross human rights violations in Paniai Regency.

 

In February 2018, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein visited Indonesia and raised concerns about human rights violations, among others, in Papua. Zeid, however, was barred a visit to West Papua.

 

In June 2018, Zeid said that the Indonesian government did not “honor” the promise for him to visit Papua Land. Permanent representative of Indonesia to UN, Hasan Kleib, responded with strong words that the Indonesian did not give access because of Zeid’s failure to “coordinate”.

 

Read also: Racial discrimination and human rights abuses are a reality in Papua

 

Kleib confirmed that “my government has indeed invited him personally to visit the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua to have a first-hand information on the ongoing improvements of human rights as well as the existing challenges.”

 

“In the follow-up, it is deeply regrettable that the staff members of his Regional Office in Bangkok, instead of coordinating the planned visit with the Indonesian authorities, has unilaterally set the dates and areas to visit in Papua and West Papua, while demanding immediate access,” wrote Kleib. Kleib said next time UN High Commissioner wanted to visit Papua, they should “strictly abide by the established working method of the UN, and respect the principles of consent of the host Government in its future engagement.”

 

Editor: Evi Mariani

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https://en.jubi.co.id/papuan-activist-to-report-5-indonesian-for-racism/

2) Papuan activist to report 5 Indonesian top figures for alleged racism

 News Desk February 3, 2021 4:53 pm

West Papua No. 1 News Portal | Jubi

 

Jayapura, Jubi – Human rights activist Ambrosius Mulait plans to report five powerful politicians to the police for alleged racism in their statements. The five are: Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud M.D., former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Hendropriyono and Malang Deputy Mayor Sofyan Edi Jarwoko.

We’re preparing the document. We represent Papuan people to report racially charged statements from this nation’s figures who currently sit in power,” said Mulait in a press release made available on Jan. 30.

Mulait is a former political prisoner for antiracism rallies and the secretary general for Association of Students from Papua’s Pegunungan Tengah in Indonesia.

 

Mulait’s plan was prompted by the latest alleged racism case involving politician and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s supporter, Ambroncius Nababan, who has been named suspect by the National Police on Jan. 26 and detained the following day.

 

Read also: [OPINION] Will racism against Natalius Pigai impact Papuans-Indonesians relationship?

 

Activists and scholars, however, argued that Nababan’s behavior was not an isolated case. It happened repeatedly both in Papua Land or in other parts of Indonesia.

 

Mulait said racially charged statements from the figures were a criminal violation because it was motivated by racial prejudice to hurt Papuans feelings.

 

“We want Jokowi administration to act fairly in enforcing the law because (the statements) Papuan people,” he said.

 

He said he expected the National Police to investigate racism allegations fairly and bring them to fair and honest court to prevent horizontal conflicts in Papua Land.

 

Read also: Racism against Papuans: National Police investigate reports on attacks against Natalius Pigai

 

Mulait said the five people he planned to report to the police made the statements in mass media.

 

Sri Sultan and separatism allegation

 

In 2016, during the siege of Kamasan Papuan Student Dorm in Yogyakarta from July 14-16, the governor who is also the sultan said that the students were separatists and separatists had no place in Yogyakarta.

 

His accusation was a response to the students’ plan to rally in support of a self determination referendum of Papuan people on July 15. A day before the planned rally, the police besieged the dorm.

 

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) regretted the governor’s statement because it singled out one ethnic group, which was Papuan. Natalius Pigai, at that time one of the commissioners, said that the governor did not say clearly who were the separatists among the students, thus generalizing as if all Papuans were separatists and insinuating that the governor want the students to leave Yogyakarta.

 

Sultan had stated that he found nothing wrong in his statement.

 

Luhut tells Papuans to join Melanesian countries

 

Mulait said he would report Luhut for his statement on Feb. 19, 2016 that insinuated he wanted Papuans to leave Indonesia and join Melanesian countries. He made the statement in response to the statement from free Papua activist Benny Wenda that said his organization, United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) got support from Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

 

Read also: When Persipura fights racism on the field

 

“Go, go join MSG. Don’t live in Indonesia anymore,” Luhut said as quoted by CNN Indonesia in 2016.

 

Mulait said, 45 years ago, national figure Ali Murtopo said Papuans who wanted to be free, go to Melanesian countries. Decades later, Luhut repeated the old statement that he found “insulting”.

 

As quoted in historia.id, Ali Murtopo said in front of Papuan Meeting Council in Jayapura that Jakarta did not want Papuan people but only wanted the land. A pastor named Hokojoku said he heard Murtopo made the statement in sneer.

 

“If Papuans want to be independent,” said Ali according to Hokojoku, “they better ask God to give Papuans an island in the Pacific for them to emigrate.”

 

Hendropriyono wants to separate Papuans from PNG

 

Mulait said Hendropriyono, former spy chief, had said that he once wanted to move 2  million Papuans to Manado in North Sulawesi, and Manadonese to Papua Land.

 

In a 57-minute video from detik.com on Jan. 6, Hendropriyono was recorded saying: “When I was still a major in Army Command School, all Irian only had about 2 million population. So I said, can I make a suggestion? Why don’t we send the 2 million in transmigration program, where? To Manado. And we send Manadonese there (Papua),” he said. The part where he said the statement had an additional text that put the statement in context: he made the suggestion so Papuans won’t “racially mixed” with the population of Papua New Guinea.

 

Mahfud MD: ‘Probably just trash’

 

Mulait got Coordinating minister Mahfud M.D. on the list for his statement about documents on the victims of human rights violations, which he called “probably just trash”. Human rights lawyer Veronica Koman said she handed over the documents to Jokowi during his visit to Australia.

 

“[The President] has received many such letters. People came up to him to shake his hands in admiration, while at the same time handing over folders and letters to him. We don’t know which ones were submitted by [Veronica] Koman,” Mahfud said.

 

“Regular citizens also send letters to the President. If [Veronica] indeed [handed over documents], they end up as trash,” Mahfud said.

 

Read also: Papuan human right lawyer confirm data on political prisoners by Veronica is valid

 

The documents contained details on 57 political prisoners and 243 civilians who had been killed in Nduga, Papua since December 2018.

 

“His statement hurt Papuan people’s feelings,” Mulait said.

 

Mahfud MD clarified his statement, as quoted by CNN Indonesia, and said that he did not refer to the documents but referred to Veronica Koman’s statement that she handed over the document to Jokowi.

 

Malang deputy mayor: Send Papuan students home

 

The fifth in the list is Malang Deputy Mayor Sofyan Edi Jarwoko, who said on Aug. 15, 2019 that Papuan students in Malang should go home to Papua.

 

He stated this after a rally by Papuan Students Alliance and Indonesian People Front (FRI), which demanded a referendum in Papua.

 

Sofyan denied that his statement was racially charged because he had ordered non-Papuan students to leave Malang too, for violating public order, he said.

 

Reporter: Benny Mawel

Editor: Zely Ariane, Evi Mariani

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/167337/armed-criminal-group-member-dies-in-gunfight-with-soldiers

3) Armed criminal group member dies in gunfight with soldiers  

10 hours ago

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Cendrawasih Regional Military Command XVII Commander Maj. Gen. Ignatius Yogo Triyono confirmed a member of armed criminal group in Itan Jaya, Papua, died in a gunfight with the Banteng/Raiders Infantry Battalion 400 (Yonif 400/BR) soldiers.

Triyono confirmed here on Thursday that a gunfight had, in fact, occurred at around 5 a.m. local time on Wednesday that resulted in the death of an armed criminal group member identified as Peria Mirib.

The Yonif 400/BR soldiers also seized a cellular phone and a handy talky (HT) device believed to be used for communication among members of the armed criminal group, he noted.

Soldiers of the Indonesian military are still conducting a clean-up operation around the scene of the gunfight, he stated.

The Yonif 400/BR soldiers were sent to Intan Jaya to join a vulnerable region securing the task force.

According to data, three Yonif 400/BR soldiers were killed in two gunfights with the armed criminal group since early this year.
Related news: Police arrest two men for attacking priest in Papua's Jayawijaya

Related news: Coffin of fallen soldier arrives in Bandung for burial

EDITED BY INE

Reporter: Evarukdijati/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf

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https://en.jubi.co.id/intan-jaya-conflict-4-mountain-of-gold/

4) Intan Jaya conflict (4): Mountain of gold raises concerns for new problems

 News Desk February 4, 2021 2:04 pm

West Papua No.1 News Portal | Jubi

 

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan Humanity Team on Case of Violence against Religious Figures in Intan Jaya regency, or Humanity Team, has completed the documentation of alleged extrajudicial killings against Protestant pastor Yeremia Zanambani on Sept. 19, 2020. This report documents facts surrounding the killing of Pastor Yeremia.

This report includes analysis of the context of violence in Intan Jaya regency, in particular between Indonesian Military (TNI) and the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), which has been happening at the expense of civilians in the regency. This is the fourth from the series published in jubi.co.id.

Sugapa district in Intan Jaya Regency had a known gold reserve potential and had been part of PT Freeport Indonesia’s Contract of Work (CoW) II in 1991. Freeport’s exploration in Wabu Block in Sugapa had detected a mineral reserve of more than 116 million metric tons, containing gold and silver.

 

Each ton (1,000 kg) of raw minerals could have an average of 2.16 grams of gold and 1.76 grams of silver. According to an officer from MIND ID, Indonesia’s holding company for three state mining enterprises including Freeport, the estimated gold potential in the block was 8.1 million troy ounce. One troy once is 31 grams.

 

Read also: Intan Jaya onflict (3): With new regency, new conflicts arise

 

Freeport returned Wabu Block to Indonesian government early July 2015 as part of the agreement to change Freeport’s CoW into Special Mining License (IUPK). Freeport’s exploration, however, never escalated into exploitation.

 

However, on Sept. 22 last year, State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir said during a hearing with Commission VI at the House of Representatives that his office had sent a letter to the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif to give Wabu Block to PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), which is also under MIND ID.

 

Since Feb. 20 last year, the President Director of MIND ID, Orias Petrus Moedak, sent a letter to Papua Governor Lukas Enembe. He asked Papua provincial administration to give recommendation to the central government to give the license to MIND ID.

 

Read also: Intan Jaya conflict (2): Civilians become victims of TNI-TPNPB war

 

On Sept. 29, Orias said he had received an answer from Lukas, who asked that the exploitation had to involve province-owned enterprise (BUMD). Orias said Papua province could start a joint venture with Antam. “The technical details of the cooperation could be discussed with the governor. We have cooperated in sharing ownership with Freeport anyway,” Orias said as quoted by kontan.co.id.

 

His statement confirmed a circulating leak of a letter from Papua governor dated on July 24 and signed by Lukas Enembe that said the Papua administration supported and recommended license or WIUPK for Wabu Block for 40,000 hectares to MIND ID.

 

Many worried that the gold mining activities, especially those in the exploitation phase, would worsen the tension and escalate the armed conflicts in Intan Jaya. During exploration phase under Freeport, Intan Jaya’s security was relatively good, especially compared to other Freeport areas in Mimika Regency, where exploitation had commenced for years.

 

Read also: Intan Jaya conflict (1): Risks of continued violence loom

 

A Timika Diocese administrator of the Catholic Church, Father Marthen Kuayo, had asked the governor to revoke the recommendation for MIND ID to work on Wabu Block. He was concerned with new social problems emerging from the gold mine that could affect the indigenous group in Intan Jaya Regency.

 

“Please, revoke the recommendation, if it is really true that the governor signed it. I have worked in Intan Jaya as a priest for seven years, I know the location. The location belongs to Belau, Japugau, and Sondegau. If a company takes over the location, where would the people go?” Marthen said.

 

Many people are worried that the history of injustice and marginalization would repeat itself if the gold mine operates. Scholars have said that extractive businesses in Papua and West Papua have used security approach, which creates conflicts.

 

Read also: The family asked to be accompanied by The National Commission on Human Rights for Pastor Yeremias Zanambani’s autopsy.

 

Moreover, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has raised their rejection the mining of Wabu Block and has asked the governor to revoke the recommendation. Their rejection would mean they would be ready to fight the mining operation.

 

With marginalization and security approach loom large along with the opening of Wabu Block, concerns over conflicts seem to be justified.

 

Topography of conflict in Intan Jaya

 

Conflicts involving violence from the security personnel or conflicts motivated by electoral politics are new types of conflicts in Intan Jaya. Bobby Anderson, a researcher, made a report in 2015, mapping the topography of security in Papua.

 

Anderson mapped out the areas in Papua based on the characteristics of the conflicts. First, conflicts with natural resources and customary rights as the background (gray). Second, conflicts motivated by rivalry between native Papuans and nonnative Papuans, usually happen in areas that have large migrant communities (green). Third, conflicts between tribal groups (yellow). Fourth, areas with violence by security personnel (dark gray). Anderson also paint some area with high level of violent conflicts red.

 

On his conflict topography map, Anderson painted Pegunungan Tengah, where Intan Jaya is located, with several colors. But he painted Intan Jaya in particular yellow, or area having tribal group conflicts, not areas with records of conflicts involving security personnel.

 

Reporter: Victor Mambor

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